Two more workers die in Panighatta, taking toll to seven

PRASHANT ACHARYA, EOI, Siliguri, 10 Dec 2015: Two more deaths of tea workers in the closed Panighatta tea estate has taken the toll to seven over the past 25 days.

Purna Bahadur Chhetri (50) and Nila Rai (52) died today due to prolonged illness. Chhetri was a C Grade employee, while Rai was a permanent tea picker who had recently participated in the relay hunger strike called by the GJM-backed Darjeeling Terai Dooars Plantation Workers’ Union (DTDPLU). She was suffering from a heart disease. Earlier, five workers died of suspected malnourishment within a span of eight days after the closure of the garden. Permanent workers Fiftenesh Lakra (36), Karmella Lakra (30) and Arun Chhetri (30) and dependent Sanjiv Tigga (26) included retired worker Majroo Xalxo (65) are the ones who died between November 16 and 25.

According to the locals, the workers who lost their lives were financially weak and suffering from various diseases. However, medical officers did not acknowledge the deaths were due to malnourishment and cited prolonged illness as the reason.

Harihar Acharay the Terai and Dooars in-charge of DTDPLU, said, "Seven workers have died since November 16 as there are no facilities for proper medical treatment including ambulance services. This is despite the fact that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on her recent visit to the Dooars, promising to take over the closed tea gardens."

He accused the state government of completely failing to resolve the issue and not pressurising garden owners to resume work. Meanwhile, hill TMC president Rajen Mukhia said although Panighatta tea garden remains closed, the situation isn’t so dire that workers are dying due to lack of food and malnourishment. "Some people have died due to illness and not due to lack of food and medical facilities,” he said.

On October 11, the tea estate management announced suspension of work alleging unruly behaviour of the workers following a disagreement over the annual Pooja bonus.